Sally, Part 32

 Sally, Part 31

Finally Stacey was able to stand on his own, and Mattias led him to a poorly lit corner of the bar.  The three of them sat down and Syrin motioned to the bartender for three drinks.  After seeing the glasses Stacey almost said he didn't want one, but then thought better of it when he considered the circumstances.

Mattias started, "We're sorry this has to be done in such a horrible place.  I'm sure your nose is driving you crazy."  He was right.  Stacey was already discerning everything he smelled, but tried to stop when he realized it was mostly beer, piss, vomit, and blood.  "But, I'm afraid that what we have to talk to you about is very sensitive."

"Very, sensitive."  Syrin's eyes fixed sharply on Stacey's.

"Frankly, if anyone learned about what we're proposing here we'd probably all be hung before we got out of Andrill."  Stacey started to look nervously around the room, "Don't worry.  The men who come here are no angels, but they aren't the kind to turn us in either."

"That doesn't mean we need to talk loud though.  Plenty of paid informants in this city."  Syrin kept shifting in his chair and looking toward the door.  He stopped when the beers got to the table.  After handing one to each of his confederates he took a long drink, but his nerves didn't seem to calm.

Stacey sat in stunned silence.  He'd never seen Syrin like this before, and after the past few months on the ship, he didn't know what to make of Mattias or this meeting.  "You're probably wondering why we had you come here."  Stacey nodded, still looking around the bar.  "Do you remember when I told you about Syrin's brother?"  Stacey stopped looking around and set his eyes on Mattias.

"Yes, I do."

"Syrin and I think we know where he's ended up, and we plan to break him out.  After talking to you about it, and hearing how much it touched you, I thought you'd want to come along.  You're also lucky, possibly the luckiest man I've ever met, and to get his brother back from who has him we'll need all the luck we can get."

"A two hundred pound rabbit's foot, that's what we need you for."  Syrin still hadn't stopped looking at the door.

"So, are you in, or are you out?"

"And just so you know, if you're out, you'll have to be dead."

Mattias shot Stacey a smile, "So what do you say?"

Stacey only had a moment to think when Syrin stood up, "Looks like we'll have to get our answer later Mattias, we need to make like halflings during conscription."

"What?"

"Scarce."